This part of ISO18437 establishes the principles underlying ISO18437-2 to ISO18437-5 for the determination of the dynamic mechanical properties (i.e. elastic modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus, loss factor, and Poisson ratio) of isotropic visco-elastic resilient materials used in vibration isolators from laboratory measurements. It also provides assistance in the selection of the appropriate part of this International Standard. This part of ISO18437 is applicable to isotropic resilient materials that are used in vibration isolators in order to reduce: the transmissions of audio frequency vibrations to a structure that can, for example, radiate fluid-borne sound (airborne, structure-borne or other); the transmission of low frequency vibrations which can, for example, act upon humans or cause damage to structures or sensitive equipment when the vibration is too severe; the transmission of shock and noise. The data obtained with the measurement methods that are outlined in this part of ISO18437 and further specified in ISO18437-2 to ISO18437-5 can be used for: the design of efficient vibration isolators; the selection of an optimum resilient material for a given design; the theoretical computation of the transfer of vibrations through vibration isolators; information during product development; product information provided by manufacturers and suppliers; quality control.